04/11/2025

TUESDAY | NOV 4, 2025

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Brewing tradition with local twist KULAI: The combination of

o Kopitiam’s chestnut-flavoured latte brings nostalgic touch to cafe scene

Singapore. Nur Syazwani said the kopitiam in Kulai offers a wide selection of both traditional and premium coffees at affordable prices. “We use two types of coffee beans – Nanyang beans for traditional coffee and Arabica beans for our premium blends.” The cafe also serves nearly 100 food items, including traditional Johor dishes such as Laksa Johor, mi rebus , charcoal-grilled toast, lempeng (traditional pancake) and satay. With the launch of its second branch, she hopes to position the

Bumiputera-owned kopitiam as a must-visit culinary destination ahead of Visit Johor Year 2026. “For your information, we operate a certified halal central kitchen, and in the near future, we plan to apply for halal certification for both the kopitiam outlets,” she added. Looking ahead, the company also plans to expand the Kelab Kopi Lama network to other areas in Johor, such as Pasir Gudang, Iskandar Puteri and Kota Tinggi, to further promote its coffee and locally inspired food offerings.

aromatic Arabica coffee and the creamy sweetness of chestnuts has made Berangan Latte one of the signature attractions at Kelab Kopi Lama, a kopitiam located in the heart of Kulai town in Johor. Interestingly, the specialty drink was not created merely for novelty, but as a choice for customers who wish to enjoy a modern coffee experience with a traditional twist. Kelab Kopi Lama chief executive officer Nur Syazwani Mohd Hassan said the idea of creating a chestnut flavoured coffee came from an effort

to introduce local ingredients to the younger generation through coffee based beverages. “Chestnuts have a unique nutty taste and a fragrant aroma. We wanted our customers to experience something new, yet still familiar and connected to our local culture,” she said in a recent interview with Bernama.

She added that the beverage is currently available exclusively at Kelab Kopi Lama in Kulai, which is the kopitiam chain’s recently opened second outlet. The first Kelab Kopi Lama outlet opened in Kempas, Johor Bahru, on May 21, 2021 and it received encouraging support, including from visitors from Kuala Lumpur and

Hydroponic harvest keeps greens fresh, rain or shine

KOTA BHARU: Frequent flooding in Kampung Sri Kulim, Melor in Padang Raja has not stopped residents from farming, thanks to the Projek Sejati Madani initiative, which introduced hydroponic farming. The RM100,000 project, launched in May with the support of the Kelantan Agriculture Department, has already completed four harvest cycles, generating income for villagers. Sri Kulim Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) chairman Badrul Hisham Yaacob said the hydroponic system allows crops such as lettuce, spinach, water spinach, coriander and pak choy to grow on elevated, movable structures without soil, making them resilient to flooding. Participants were trained in the automatic nutrient film technique (NFT), which continuously delivers nutrient-rich water to keep the plants healthy, reported Bernama. Each harvest cycle, which takes around four weeks, produces 200 to 300 lettuce plants, some sold to chicken rice vendors, burger stalls and nearby farmers’ markets. Profits are also channelled into the Sejati Madani Community Fund to

assist families during floods or emergencies, with 30 per cent of sales revenue contributed back to the community. Encouraged by the project’s success, the village security committee plans to build two additional greenhouses to expand crop varieties such as fruit vegetables, including mini eggplants and cherry tomatoes. Badrul Hisham noted that the initiative not only provides income but also strengthens local food security and supports the rural economy. Housewife Bariah Yaacob, a project participant, said she never imagined growing crops without soil and now earns supplementary income while cultivating fresh, pesticide-free vegetables. “I used to only plant flowers in my yard, but learning about hydroponics has been exciting because I can now grow fresh, pesticide-free vegetables that are quick to harvest,“ she said. The hydroponic farm has also become a social hub, encouraging villagers to cooperate and actively maintain and expand the community’s farming efforts.

Kampung Sri Kulim community growers reaping the rewards of modern hydroponic farming. – BERNAMAPIC